While other 80’s franchises have floundered, Robotech fans keep the show relevant.
President of Animation at Harmony Gold, Tommy Yune, gives all thanks to the fans.
They are the ones whove kept the fires alive.
WhenDen of Geekgot to visit Harmony Gold, the owners ofRobotech, fans were continually brought up.
It helps that the people behindRobotechare such big fans themselves.
When you walk into the offices they have a TV set up to playRobotech: Battlecry.
Toys line the walls.
New fans are discovering the series all the time.
I didnt even know whatRobotechwas but Im a fan.
Were gonna watch the show now.
We just did a presentation!
Heres some video heres some toys, blah blah blahRobotechis cool heres some t-shirts!
This wonderful young man is now going to watch the show.
Thats the power of the series.
We kept getting questions, I just sawLove Live Alive.
Is there a prequel movie I can watch?
Well yes, there are eighty-five episodes!
But its those old fans that can also be very critical of how the franchise is handled.
Davis simply says you cant like everyone.
We respect the heck out of our fans.
But that also means you get people who are too fanatical about it.
They get very detail oriented with certain parts of the show.
Youre just not going to kindly everybody.
We try very hard to make the fans happy.
We dont always succeed, but we try.
When no one says anything?
Thats the big problem.
(Classic Robotech merchandise displayed in the Robotech offices.)
In fact its the people the Harmony Gold team meet in person at conventions that leave the biggest impact.
I like to go behind the scenes a bit and talk to people looking atRobotechmerchandise.
Ill say something like, Oh, do you likeRobotech?
and theyre like, Oh I loveRobotech!
They dont know Im with Harmony Gold so its the most honest answer that they could give.
Were able to listen to them and they can listen to us and they get their questions answered.
Thats a tremendous way of keeping the franchise alive and keeping it energized.
They go, Someone from Hollywood is sitting down and talking to me in a conversation.
If you watch our panels we make ample time for Q/A.
That keeps people engaged so that when new products come out theyre bought and that keeps the franchise going.
We go out into the depths ofRobotechfans and talk to them about the franchise.
We are big on social media.
We attempt to announce things and put up pictures and attempt to keep things moving forward.
We plan our announcements for the year.
We have announcements we havent even announced yet.
(A Robotech: Crystal Dreams comic displayed in the Robotech offices.)
Answering fans questions in person can reap long-term benefits.
People were still talking aboutRobotechat the convention because we showed up just to answer fans questions.
That goes a long way.
Robotechcontinues to have a very strong fan base in Latin America as well.
The shows fan base there is ecstaticRobotechis back on Netflix.
Tommy Yune makes it clear how important that fan base is to them.
So showing fans that theres that attention to what they enjoy really pays off.
(Pictured from L to R, Billy Davis, Kevin McKeever, and Tommy Yune.)
I watched it on channel 13 here in LA.
I fell in love with the characters and I thought they were fantastic.
McKeever gave a surprising answer, I would have to say my favorite is the Masters.
My favorite character, Angelo Dante, is in it.
(A classic SDF-1 toy displayed in the Robotech offices.)
Tommy Yunes initial answer will spend a chill upRobotechfans spines.
Well I really like the experimental CG inRobotech 3000.
Everyone immediately laughs, Thats like our (Star Wars) Christmas special.
Ive always liked the New Generation because I watchedRobotechbackwards.
I was like Who are these muckity-mucks I want to know what happened to Scott Bernard!
And what about outside ofRobotech?
I like playing with cards and stuff like that.
Davis says, as he shows off his shirt, which features the Magic Castle logo.
Im a musician so I play ten different instruments so I enjoy just playing music whenever I can.
I have three groups I play around town.
I enjoy fine wine and walks on the beach.
I love movies and art.
I love to draw and paint.
My free time is taken up by doing those kinds of things with my lovely wife of twenty-seven years.
McKeever says much of his time is taken up by the franchise.
In the month of June I worked thirty one days straight doing all the conventions and working in here.
I love old 80s video games.
I love to restore 80s computers.
Like Ill get three broken Macintosh portables from the 80s and turn them into two working ones.
When I have the time I like to go hiking up in the foothills.
Seen a couple of bears but havent gotten attacked yet!
(More Robotech merchandise on display in the Robotech offices.)
It speaks for itself.
Well be having updates on the future of theRobotechanimated series and theRobotechfeature film soon.
